The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

 
 
 
 
The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

published by Simon & Schuster

pages 546

genre unreliable narrator/ psychological thriller.

 

 

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.
She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.
They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.
She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What i thought

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm really sorry, but this review will contain a lot and a lot of spoilers. Please read the book first, all I can say is that this series is definitely one of my favourites and I would highly recommend it. Also, please be warned that this book << the evolution of mara dyer>> is the second book in the trilogy.

So let's get started with the review. <<Contains spoilers>>

 

 

I have just finished this book and my mind is so blown right now. I'm sure all of you will know, as the ending was just so epic. And definitely the most epic cliffhanger I ever read.

 So first of all, I really couldn't believe that Noah and Mara were the only ones who believed Jude was still out there. I mean, all the circumstances Mara's family had to go through. It definitely could not only have been Mara. And even though Mara may have killed Claire, how would she possibly be able to bring her back. It's not as if Mara isn't sad about the loss of her friend and killed claire on purpose.

The only thing I really need to talk about is the ending. Noah dead? Please for god's sake don't let Noah be dead, his character was absolutely my favourite! Dr. Kells part of some sort of complot starring Jude against Mara? What! From the beginning I knew Mara was right, even though this book is written from an unreliable narrator's point of view. I just couldn't believe that Mara wasn't truthful. And I just didn't trust Dr. Kells' character. But the fact that Dr. Kells knew everything about Mara and Jude, and she even monitored Mara's house, was just an awfully good plot twist I definitely was not expecting.

 I'm going to keep this review short and sweet, as it is almost midnight right now, and the only thing that is on my mind is the "death" of Noah. I definitely need the 3th part of the series right now! It is absolutely ridiculous how addicting this series is. Perfect for binge reading

 

What did you think about the ending?

Let me know, in the comments down below.  

xxxx Zoë

 

BTW : please don't finish this book before you go to bed because it will get you so pumped and excited for the next book ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonita Avenue by Peter Buwalda

Bonita Avenue by Peter Buwalda

published by De Bezige Bij

Pages 544

Siem Sigerius is a beloved, brilliant professor of mathematics with a promising future in politics. His family—including a loving wife, two gorgeous, intelligent stepdaughters and a successful future son-in-law—and carefully appointed home in the bucolic countryside complete the portrait of a comfortable, morally upright household. But there are elements of Siem's past that threaten to upend the peace and stability that he has achieved, and when he stumbles upon a deception that’s painfully close to home, things begin to fall apart. A cataclysmic explosion in a fireworks factory, the advent of internet pornography, and the reappearances of a discarded, dangerous son all play a terrible role in the spectacular fragmentation of the Sigerius clan.
         

What i thought

If I did not have to read this for school I would never have read it anyway. But I'm really glad that I have actually read it. Before I get into the review I wanted to mention that I have read it in Dutch, so I have no clue about the language that is used in the English translation and I will base my review around the Dutch book. 

I didn't know what I was expecting from this book, but it was nothing near what this book actually was about. I didn't expect it to be so vulgar and explicit. One thing that was absolutely amazing about this book was the writing. Peter Buwalda's writing is really intriguing, interesting and different from other writers I have read. I enjoyed this book as much as I hated this book. So let me explain...

The main event in this book is the fireworks catastrophe in Enschede in the year 2000. After this has taken place, everything starts going down hill for family Sigerius. Siem Sigerius discovers the porn site of his eldest stepdaughter Joni, leading up to his death in the same year. His curiosity and self-hatred has taken the better hand over him.  

There are three characters in this book, whom all get an evenly divided part. Joni and Aaron look back from the future to the past ( the year 2000) and explain what has happened in that year. Whereas Siem Sigerius tells about his life sofar and eventually ends with his dead. He obviously can't look back upon the past, since he has died in 2000. 

//Spoiler alert, this part of the review can contain spoilery thought and will take up two paragraphs//

One this I absolutely couldn't get my head around was the fact that Peter Buwalda could actually think of such a vulgair and explicit story. The way it was written and the way all the chapters lead up to the grand finale was absolutely stunning. But what really shocked me was Siem Sigerius. First of all, he didn't regconise his stepdaughter one the pornphoto's in the first place and once he discovers the secrets. He decides to take a look at Aaron's house, examining all the little hooks and crannies. He eventually ends up in the attic, finding all the panties and stilettos his stepdaughter has been wearing on the photos. For some sick reason he decides to put on one of his daughter's panties. Who would do such a thing! 

And then there is the scene that takes place at the house of family Sigerius. Tineke and Janis have left for their winter holiday in France, leaving the whole house of Siem alone. He had to finish his work before he went to France. But, the day before he had to leave, his biological son Wilbert breaks into his house to kill Siem Sigerius. Siem isn't the weak, old father Wilbert had expected him to be. Siem tackles him and deliberately breaks his arm. Wilbert flees from the house. The next day Siem finds his son laying in the backyard, freezed to death by the snow. Now, I have no idea how to handle this situation, but what Siem did was absolutely sick. He decides to chop up his son, to drive to France, drop a bag filled with the chopped up son and - because he can't handle the situation, I suppose- he kills himself in a boat that is actually from his stepdaughter Joni and her boyfriend Aaron. What? 

//Spoiler part is done ^^//

I have mixed feelings about this book. I did really like it, but some parts were to vulgar and explicit for my liking.  I would recommend it, if you are really interested in reading literature from all around the world. However I don't think that this is Holland's best literature. 

Have you read this book,

what did you think of it? 

xx Zoë. 

The lost by Sarah Beth Durst

The lost by Sarah Beth Durst

Published by Harlequin MIRA

Genre fantasy contemporary(?)

Pages 350

It was only meant to be a brief detour. But then Lauren finds herself trapped in a town called Lost on the edge of a desert, filled with things abandoned, broken and thrown away. And when she tries to escape, impassable dust storms and something unexplainable lead her back to Lost again and again. The residents she meets there tell her she's going to have to figure out just what she's missing--and what she's running from--before she can leave. So now Lauren's on a new search for a purpose and a destiny. And maybe, just maybe, she'll be found...

Against the backdrop of this desolate and mystical town, Sarah Beth Durst writes an arresting, fantastical novel of one woman's impossible journey...and her quest to find her fate.

What I thought

Overall this book was great. I really enjoyed this book and I will most definitely continue reading this series. Sarah Beth Durst writing was good and funny. Eventhough this book does contain a serious subject, she carried it lightly. Whereas I cry reading John Greens "The Fault In Our Stars" <In which John Green obviously wants the reader to feel all emotions> I didn't cry reading the Lost.  Eventhough this book contains the same subject <only in the Lost it's not the main subject, it's a second story woven into the story itself>.

I gave this book four out of five stars, just because I'm still confused about the world Sarah Beth Durst has created. I really liked this book, the story and the characters, but I would have changed some tiny things. The first thing I wanted to talk about are the characters. 

Sarah Beth Durst has done an explicit job of creating characters and mapping out the world. In my imagination it just all makes sense as far as looks go. Lauren was a funny girl and not as naive as some girls can be in young adult books. The other main characters <Claire and Peter> where lovely decribed and seemed so nice aswell. 

The only thing that I found quite annoying was the way Lauren sometimes handled situations. Now I don't know how I would handle the situations and I'd probably react the same way Lauren does. But sometimes she could annoy me just slightly. Another thing I really can't get my head around is the world Sarah has created. As I said above, it made the mosts of sense in my head. But just as far as looks go. Don't get me wrong, but I just don't understand this world. 

// This part can contain spoilers //: 

Going through a dust storm Lauren somehow gets herself in the city Lost. She gets to know a lot of people, even almost having a relationship with the Finder called Peter. When Lauren is in this city <which she is for a long time>  I got the feeling this world was real. Eventhough I found myself wondering " How could there be a city in which people find what their lost and go to this special person 'the missing man' to get back to their lives out of the city.  And how would they do this, going into another city and returning.  Some people were there for a couple of years. Does their live stop when they end up in Lost?" When Lauren get's out of Lost and she ends up laying in a coma in the same hospital as her mother, I really didn't understand it anymore. Sarah Beth Durst makes us think that this city Lost is imaginary. Lauren would have been in a dream, a dream that seems so real. Maybe this city will make more sense in the second book? 

At the end of the book I really wanted to continue with the series, I wanted to know more about Lauren. About Peter and Claire. I recommend getting both book one "the Lost" and two "the Missing" when entering this new lovely world. Totally loved this book. The characters, the concept and the writing. Defenitely check this series out if you haven't already!

Have you read this book? What did you think? 

Let me know in the comments down below. 

                                                       x Zoë

Reboot by Amy Tintera

Reboot by Amy Tintera

Published by Harper Teen

Genre young adult dystopian

Pages 365

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. 

After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. 

The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return.

 Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. 

His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. 

Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. 

When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. 

Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. 

But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

Verdict

What I thought

I really liked the plot of this book. I thought it was something new, a fresh take on the well-known zombies. However, there was a lot left to be desired. 

These Reboots are seen as awful, disgusting and inhuman. They are supposed to be strong, fast, able to heal and they don't have the emotional feelings the way humans do (if they have been dead for a long time before "rebooting") Our main character, Wren 178,  is the deadliest Reboot in Texas. But for me, she wasn't that deadly and scary, as she is supposed to be. Yes she is a good fighter but she isn't intimidating at all. This might be the reason why Callum wasn’t intimidated by Wren aswell. Something she couldn't get her head around. 

Wren, because she is 178, is supposed to not have any human emotions and feelings at all. In the beginning of the book, you think she hasn't. But when Callum comes into the picture you see she's just like any other teenage girl. I did think we'd experience an epic growth in her emotions and feelings. But the one moment she doesn't show any, and the other she is an emotional wreck. 

Callum now is training with Wren. Wren describes that she doesn't understand why girls are so into boys, what people like about kissing. But Wren seemed to fall for Callum so fast. I didn't expect the romance to begin so early into the book. I didn't mind it though, but I did find this a little bit of a letdown. 

Also, at the very end of the book, it was very quick paced. They fought HARC; they conquered and went to a place where Reboots could live free. However, this felt too beautiful to be true. 

I don't like to be too negative. As this wasn't a horrible book! I really did like it. There were a few things that let down to the awesome plot. But I did enjoy their romance (even though it was a bit fast paced) and the original take on the zombies. 

Reboot was quite entertaining; even though Wren was a typical love-struck girl, whom was supposed to be a bad-ass girl. The ending did make me very curious for the sequel. To me this was a pretty average dystopian read. 

Since you've been gone by Morgan Matson

Since you've been gone by Morgan Matson

Published by Simon & Schuster

Genre Contemporary

Pages 449

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. 

Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell.But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just... disappears. 

No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. 

There’s just a random to-do list. 

On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try... unless they could lead back to her best friend. 

Apple Picking at Night? Ok, easy enough.

Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not? 

Kiss a Stranger? Wait... what?

Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. 

But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, 

and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. 

Who knows what she’ll find?

Verdict 

What I thought

First of all I'd like to say that I totally loved this book! The writing was beautiful and the story was interesting. It felt as if I was Emily herself, probably because I can relate to her.

But, who would leave their friend behind without saying anything? I know I wouldn't be able to do so. The book is based on the idea that Sloane leaves Emily behind with this list she needs to complete. Even though I found this super interesting and I really wanted to complete the list myself. I kept thinking about Sloane, who'd left Emily behind without saying a word. If you're such close friends, why would you want to give that up? As Emily works her way through the list, she finds growth both socially and mentally.  

I have never connected so well with a character. Sometimes I felt as if I was Emily, as if I have known her all along. She is very passive, doesn't like to make small talk with strangers or do things out of her comfort zone. Contrary to her friend Sloane, as Sloane loves to talk and be noticed. Everytime Emily completed a task of the list, I felt so proud. Really seeing her grow was an eye opener for me. Thinking, if Emily could complete this list filled with some crazy things,  I could do it as well.

And Frank Porter! Do I need to say more? The over-achiever and good guy who helps Emily along the way with completing the list. Frank was such a sweet, caring and supportive guy. When Emily and Frank went for a run, I totally wish I was running next to him. 

Talking about running. Running was the activity that brought Frank and Emily together. Flipping through the book I saw these lists, and I was super excited to find out what they were. The book contains a lot of playlists filled with awesome songs! 

I loved this book so much, it was a real eye opener for me. It make me feel powerfull and energetic. It made me want to begin with stepping out of my comfort zone, making new friends and having wonderful,new experiences. I'm already making lists for what my friends and I can do this summer. One of them is definitely re-reading this book. It's such a light hearted, summer read, which yet contains a serious message. For me this message was: try to live your life to the fullest. 

I definitely recommend this book to everyone. Pick this book up as soon as you can. It was delightfull!

Morgan Matson did a great job once again! Thank you!